Billy Bragg Announces New Album, Tour Dates

Billy Braggis set to release his 10th studio album Tooth & Nail on March 19 via Cooking Vinyl.

Tooth & Nail, Bragg’s first studio album in five years, was recorded completely live in Pasadena over five days in early 2012. The songs feature Bragg’s vocal and guitar skills with musicians assembled by producer and longtime friend Joe Henry: Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar), Patrick Warren (keyboards), Jay Bellerose (drums and David Piltch (upright bass).

In a press release, the 12-track album was described as “written with an eye towards the personal rather than the political.” The inspiration for this theme of the album came from a fan’s tweet to Bragg nicknaming him “The Sherpa of Heartbreak.”

“Most people, when they hear my name, think of polemical anthems born in struggle,” Bragg explained. “I often find myself having to remind people that I am also the Sherpa of Heartbreak, writing songs about the struggle to maintain our relationships with those we love the most.”

Kicking off with a performance at SXSW in March, the singer also announced dates for his seven-week North American tour.

Check out the full track listing for Tooth & Nail and complete list of tour dates below.

Tooth & Nail:
1. January Song
2. No One Knows Nothing Anymore
3. Handyman Blues
4. I Ain’t Got No Home
5. Swallow My Pride
6. Do Unto Others
7. Over You
8. Goodbye, Goodbye
9. There Will Be A Reckoning
10. Chasing Rainbows
11. Your Name On My Tongue
12. Tomorrow’s Going To Be A Better Day